Munster clung on to end a run of three successive defeats by beating the Ospreys in Limerick on Saturday.

Four penalties and a drop by fly-half Jeremy Manning put them 15-0 up before the Ospreys' Shaun Connor scurried over for a try which he converted.

Munster regained their 15-point lead by half-time with number eight James Coughlan forcing his way over.

Ospreys winger Jonny Vaughton darted over for a try and although they closed the gap Munster held on for the win.

Despite most of their first-choice players being on international duty, Munster raced into that early lead thanks to the kicking of 21-year-old New Zealand-born Manning.

The Ospreys hit back with former All Blacks scrum-half Justin Marshall taking a quick tap and offloading to Jason Spice who sent Connor in for a well-worked try.

Munster responded with their only touchdown, Coughlan ploughing over on the end of a five-metre scrum for his first provincial try.

The Ospreys got back within range just five minutes into the second half.

A sweet inside pass from Tal Selley sent winger Vaughton through for his first try of the league campaign.

Yellow cards for Spice and Federico Pucciariello - the Munster prop was left bloodied after a clash with Brent Cockbain - disrupted the pattern of the game, but Manning cooled matters with his fifth penalty.

The final quarter saw Connor kick two more penalties but they were not enough to prevent a nervy Munster holding on for victory.